At least 107 devotees were hospitalized after consuming ‘anna dhana’ (food charity) at a temple in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district. The mass feeding was part of the temple’s Kumbh Shekha Festival, which began on June 6.
What Happened at the Feast
The Karuppannasamy Temple, located in Kalvimadai village, was hosting its annual festival, an important religious event known for its rituals and large community feasts. As part of the celebrations, the temple organized ‘anna dhana’, a traditional meal offered to devotees.
On Sunday, June 8, the feast took a worrying turn. Within just a few hours, several people began experiencing severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases, even fainting. The meal served reportedly included rice, lentils, and other local accompaniments.
Many Fell Sick, Rushed to the Hospital
Local health workers were quick to respond. Those who had fallen sick were first taken to nearby primary health centers. The more critical cases were shifted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for further care.
“I had only vegetarian food. I don’t know what went wrong,” said a patient undergoing treatment.
By Monday evening, nearly 107 people had been hospitalized, including 41 men, 55 women, and 11 children.
Dr. Saravanan, who is heading the medical team, said to IANS that all patients received timely care with glucose drips and antibiotics for vomiting and diarrhea. Most are now stable and are likely to be discharged within two days, after careful monitoring.
All have been moved to regular wards now. They will be fine in two or three days. As a priority, we treated first those dehydrated or having BP issues.Senior Doctor, Government Rajaji Hospital
What’s Being Done Now
Doctors suspect it’s a case of food poisoning, possibly caused by contaminated food or water served at the temple. While no life-threatening symptoms have been reported, authorities aren’t taking any chances.
An investigation has been launched. Officials have already collected food and water samples from the site for testing. They’ve also promised stricter hygiene checks and better monitoring at similar public gatherings going forward.
This isn’t the first time Tamil Nadu has seen such an incident. Back in April, 15 students from a government school in Tiruchirappalli also fell sick after eating their midday meal. They were treated on the spot by the medical team and recovered well.
What Lies Ahead
With most patients recovering and the situation stable for now, the incident highlights the need for better hygiene checks during large gatherings like temple festivals.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)